Turkey’s Orpen Kisacikoglu Wins Maiden WSOP Bracelet in WSOPE Diamond High Roller NLHE (€748,106)

Turkish high roller Orpen Kisacikoglu (cover image) stacked a 45-player field in the 2022 WSOP Europe €50,000 Diamond High Roller No-Limit Hold’em at King’s Resort in Rozvadov, winning his maiden WSOP bracelet and a winner`s payday worth €748,106 along with a seat in the 2023 Tournament of Champions. English poker pro Sam Grafton pocketed €462,363 in second place.

Kisacikoglu has live tournament scores going back to 2011 and holds a runaway lead on Turkey’s all-time money list, with over $10.12 Million in live tournament winnings to his name. A regular in high roller tournaments in Europe, the bracelet win fetched him his third-largest career cash. His career-best score is still the €2,130,921 he won for taking down the €100K NLHE at this year’s Triton Poker Series Madrid.

2022 has been a bountiful year for the Turkish poker pro, for he has already FT-ed six headline tournaments at marquee stops like EPT Prague, EPT Monte Carlo, Triton Poker Series Madrid, EPT London, and now at WSOP Europe. However, the latest victory is a little more special for Kisacikoglu than any other of his 25 six-figure and above tournament scores, as it earned him an enchanting gold WSOPE bracelet.

Speaking to reporters after the event, Kisacikoglu said, “It feels incredibly special. Playing with friends makes things more relaxed at the table, but yeah, when we got to the final few, I was starting to feel anxious about finishing second again (referencing his Triton second place result).”

Kisacokoglu also expanded on what it is like to be amongst friends when playing high rollers. “I remember what it was like to be a loner at these events—trying to go it alone. I really don’t miss those days,” he said after his win, with a bit of emotion oozing out. Now he has made friends as many players he had just defeated congratulated him on his victory.

The final table featured a plethora of poker big shots, including five-time bracelet winner Shaun Deeb (3rd for €313,919), two-time bracelet winner Nick Petrangelo (4th for €220,045), bracelet winner Timothy Adams (5th for €159,413), Daniel Pidin (6th for €119,492) and the 2022 EPT London £25,000 Single-Day High Roller II champion Daniel Dvoress (7th for €92,787).

The €50,000 buy-in NLHE Diamond High Roller registered a 45-player field, generating a €2,116,125 prize pool.

Final Table Recap

Jorryt Van Hoof exited first from the final table in ninth place, followed by the €25K Platinum High Roller champion Paul Phua, who bore the brunt of becoming the bubble boy.

Canadian poker superstar Daniel Dvoress min-cashed in seventh place, and Daniel Pidun was next to exit in sixth place.

Timothy Adams, who entered Day 2 with the chip lead, walked out in fourth place after losing a monster hand against the soon-to-be champion Kisacikoglu.

Nick Petrangelo did well to carry his short stack on the money bubble to a fourth-place finish.

Looking for his sixth bracelet win, Shaun Deeb fell prey to a pre-flop cooler as he ran his pocket jacks into Kisacikoglu’s pocket kings, falling two places shy of the title.

Sam Grafton and Orpen Kisacikoglu were the last two players left standing, both pros chasing the elusive WSOP bracelet. And after a brief heads-up battle, the winner was decided.

On the final hand, Kisacikoglu, who was the first to act, moved all in. After some deliberation, Grafton called off for 9.60 Million, putting his tournament life at risk.

Sam Grafton

Orpen Kisacikoglu

Grafton needed help to find his bracelet hopes alive. The flop was a welcome gift for Grafton, but a turn made things trickier as Kisacikoglu opened up additional outs to a straight. The river got him there, giving the Turkish pro the nut straight for the win.

The duo exchanged a massive hug in celebration, with Grafton happy for Kisacikoglu’s win and grateful for his deep run.

Final Table Results (EURO)

1. Orpen Kisacikoglu – €748,106
2. Sam Grafton – €462,363
3. Shaun Deeb – €313,919
4. Nick Petrangelo – €220,045
5. Timothy Adams – €159,413
6. Daniel Pidin – €119,492
7. Daniel Dvoress – €92,787

Images and Content Courtesy: WSOP